The Paradox of a Nation Under God...

The second testament, according to the King James Bible, states;
 

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God..."

 
I have always had an interest in American cultural absurdities; including religion and, of course, the American flag. To me, the American flag, as a symbol, follows in the footsteps of a carving of Jesus Crucified. The flag is an object that symbolizes America's freedoms as well as it's victory to secure those freedoms; and the crucifix symbolizes the freedoms of humankind as bestowed upon them through the victorious completion of the life of Jesus Christ. In a country that claims millions upon millions who follow whole-heartedly the word of "God," it seems there are many large miscalculations and misinterpretations of "His" word. For as it is written in the holy dictionary, a graven image, by definition, is an object of worship carved usually from wood or stone. But wouldn't the word of God extend beyond carving in wood or stone to include all future technological processes from plaster molds to computer generated images? So, any objects or images made in the likeness of any existing thing or idea on earth, in the ocean, or in heaven, that is worshipped or is a symbol causing mass servitude; would be a sin according to the second commandment.
 

 
Since I was a young boy, I was under the impression that the American flag, being a symbol of American values and such, was something to serve, something to fly high, to salute, and to follow. To me, this woven "likeness", that people follow so willingly, is no less of a sin than serving a false idol. In a country who's government officials and much of the general public hold so close the ten commandments of the Christian bible, as well as the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution; a porcelain bust of Jesus, and the American flag, represent the same offense.
 

 
These two images, along with being part of an ongoing extended self-portrait project, are a couple my interpretations of the paradox within the parallels between Christian and American cultures.